Apatinib Inhibits the Invasion and Metastasis of Liver Cancer Cells by Downregulating MMP-Related Proteins via Regulation of the NF-κB Signaling Pathway

Figure 4

Real-time PCR and Western blot analysis of expression levels of TIMP family genes in Hep3B and HepG2 liver cells. (a) Real-time PCR analysis of the expression levels of TIMP-1, TIMP-2, TIMP-3, and TIMP-4. The results show that apatinib increased the expression of TIMP-3 and TIMP-4. (b) Protein expression levels of TIMPs following treatment with apatinib in Hep3B and HepG2 cells analyzed by Western blot, confirming an increased TIMP-3 and TIMP-4 expression upon apatinib treatment. GAPDH was used as the loading control. TIMP: tissue inhibitors of metalloproteinase.

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